Automatic explode based on occlusion

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products feature providing a rendering of a three-dimensional assembly of components. An explosion sequence for separating first components of the assembly is determined. The explosion sequence comprises stages in which each stage represents a different spatial relationship between two or more of the first components. A first input is received from an interactive control. A first stage in the explosion sequence is selected based on the first input. The rendering of the assembly is updated, responsive to the first input, to show the first stage of the explosion sequence. A second input is received from the interactive control. A different second stage in the explosion sequence is selected based on the second input. The rendering of the assembly is updated, responsive to the second input, to show the second stage of the explosion sequence.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
 determining a first separation direction for separating a first component of a three-dimensional assembly of components from a second component of the assembly of components, wherein determining the first separation direction comprises:
 determining a respective occlusion measure for each of a plurality of occlusion views, wherein each occlusion view represents the first and second component in a different respective viewing direction and identifies a region where the first component is physically blocked from movement along the respective viewing direction by the second component; 
 selecting an occlusion view of the plurality of occlusion views based on the respective occlusion measures, wherein the respective occlusion measure of the selected occlusion view satisfies a criterion; 
 selecting the respective viewing direction associated with the selected occlusion view as the first separation direction; and 
 
 updating a rendering of the assembly to show the first component spatially separated from the second component by positioning one of the first component and the second component along the first separation direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the first component represents a substantially linear component and the selected occlusion view satisfies the criterion by having a respective viewing direction that is the same as a major axis of the first component. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a second separation direction for separating a third component with respect to the second component; and 
 updating the rendering of the assembly to show the second component spatially separated from the third component by repositioning one of the second component and the third component along the second separation direction. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3  wherein the distance between the second component and the third component is determined by projecting the second and third components onto a line and measuring the distance on the line between the projections of the second and third components. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  wherein the line is parallel to the axis defined by the second separation direction. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 receiving a distance value from an interactive control wherein the distance value is different than the distance between the second and third components; and 
 positioning the second component along the axis defined by the second separation direction a distance equivalent to the received distance value from the third component while keeping the first component positioned about an axis defined by the first separation direction with respect to the second component. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein each respective occlusion measure is based on an occlusion percentage of the occlusion view, wherein the occlusion percentage is the percentage area of the first component that is blocked by the second component for the occlusion view. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  wherein selecting an occlusion view of the plurality of occlusion views based on the respective occlusion measures comprises selecting the occlusion view having a smallest respective occlusion measure. 
     
     
       9. A system comprising:
 one or more computers programmed to perform operations comprising:
 determining a first separation direction for separating a first component of a three-dimensional assembly of components from a second component of the assembly of components, wherein determining the first separation direction comprises:
 determining a respective occlusion measure for each of a plurality of occlusion views, wherein each occlusion view represents the first and second component in a different respective viewing direction and identifies a region where the first component is physically blocked from movement along the respective viewing direction by the second component; 
 selecting an occlusion view of the plurality of occlusion views based on the respective occlusion measures, wherein the respective occlusion measure of the selected occlusion view satisfies a criterion; 
 
 selecting the respective viewing direction associated with the selected occlusion view as the first separation direction; and 
 
 updating a rendering of the assembly to show the first component spatially separated from the second component by positioning one of the first component and the second component along the first separation direction. 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9  wherein the first component represents a substantially linear component and the selected occlusion view satisfies the criterion by having a respective viewing direction that is the same as a major axis of the first component. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9  wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining a second separation direction for separating a third component with respect to the second component; and 
 updating the rendering of the assembly to show the second component spatially separated from the third component by repositioning one of the second component and the third component along the second separation direction. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11  wherein the distance between the second component and the third component is determined by projecting the second and third components onto a line and measuring the distance on the line between the projections of the second and third components. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12  wherein the line is parallel to the axis defined by the second separation direction. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 11  wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving a distance value from an interactive control wherein the distance value is different than the distance between the second and third components; and 
 positioning the second component along the axis defined by the second separation direction a distance equivalent to the received distance value from the third component while keeping the first component positioned about an axis defined by the first separation direction with respect to the second component. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 9  wherein each respective occlusion measure is based on an occlusion percentage of the occlusion view, wherein the occlusion percentage is the percentage area of the first component that is blocked by the second component for the occlusion view. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 9  wherein selecting an occlusion view of the plurality of occlusion views based on the respective occlusion measures comprises selecting the occlusion view having a smallest respective occlusion measure. 
     
     
       17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more computers, cause the computers to perform operations comprising:
 determining a first separation direction for separating a first component of a three-dimensional assembly of components from a second component of the assembly of components, wherein determining the first separation direction comprises:
 determining a respective occlusion measure for each of a plurality of occlusion views, wherein each occlusion view represents the first and second component in a different respective viewing direction and identifies a region where the first component is physically blocked from movement along the respective viewing direction by the second component; 
 selecting an occlusion view of the plurality of occlusion views based on the respective occlusion measures, wherein the respective occlusion measure of the selected occlusion view satisfies a criterion; 
 selecting the respective viewing direction associated with the selected occlusion view as the first separation direction; and 
 
 updating a rendering of the assembly to show the first component spatially separated from the second component by positioning one of the first component and the second component along the first separation direction. 
 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17  wherein the first component represents a substantially linear component and the selected occlusion view satisfies the criterion by having a respective viewing direction that is the same as a major axis of the first component. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17  wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining a second separation direction for separating a third component with respect to the second component; and 
 updating the rendering of the assembly to show the second component spatially separated from the third component by repositioning one of the second component and the third component along the second separation direction. 
 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 19  wherein the distance between the second component and the third component is determined by projecting the second and third components onto a line and measuring the distance on the line between the projections of the second and third components. 
     
     
       21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 20  wherein the line is parallel to the axis defined by the second separation direction. 
     
     
       22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 19  wherein the operations further comprise:
 receiving a distance value from an interactive control wherein the distance value is different than the distance between the second and third components; and 
 positioning the second component along the axis defined by the second separation direction a distance equivalent to the received distance value from the third component while keeping the first component positioned about an axis defined by the first separation direction with respect to the second component. 
 
     
     
       23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17  wherein each respective occlusion measure is based on an occlusion percentage of the occlusion view, wherein the occlusion percentage is the percentage area of the first component that is blocked by the second component for the occlusion view. 
     
     
       24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17  wherein selecting an occlusion view of the plurality of occlusion views based on the respective occlusion measures comprises selecting the occlusion view having a smallest respective occlusion measure.